Today, 09-May-2010, I visited the IJmuiden area in search of ringed gulls. Hopes were low as most of the gulls are present in the breeding colonies. This proved to be true as some 1100 LBBGs and HGs could be seen on the island that hosts the breeding population. I saw some 200 gulls outside the colony all without rings. Also, some 20 GBBGs were present all 2nd or 3rd CYs. The morning ended with reading of just one ring, the Russian herring gull W[KH89] which was present again in IJmuiden, this time at the Noordpier. This is my first reading of a Russian ring.

The story continues; a fresh juvenile from Russia coded Y[KW25] was present today (14DEC12) on the roof of the waste treatment plant in Amsterdam. This one is also ringed in the Kandalakhsa area and thus flew well over 2000 km to reach the Netherlands.
Hope it will be retrieved in our area.
I have added a picture of low quality due to the weather conditions and the distance.